Homeless Sussex man who wrote note asking for work is offered a job

A homeless man who wrote a note asking for work to make life ‘worth living’ has been offered a job to help him get off the streets.

Anthony Johnson, 37, posted the note outside a bus stop opposite the Pelican, in Hastings, in the hope somebody would help change his life.

Charlotte Howard said she found the note at a bus stop in Hastings

The note was spotted by 16-year-old Charlotte Howard who posted it to her Facebook page, prompting Nelson Smith – a landscape gardener – to contact Anthony about a potential job.

Anthony, who has spent nine years on the streets, said: “The reaction after Charlotte posted the note was weird. I was suddenly bombarded with certain things.

“It’s not like I haven’t previously been asking for help but all it takes is an open-minded person like Charlotte to come along and help. She saw me and recognised my position and decided she wanted to do something to help.

“I didn’t want to do the things I used to do. My social circles used to be drug takers and criminals. Now it’s pastors and people doing outreach work.

“Getting a job is about having something to do rather than rotting away on a bench. It’s about having something in your life and at the moment that seems to be coming back.”

Nelson said he was inspired to contact Charlotte as, in Anthony, he saw a man who was trying to help himself.

Nelson added: “I have had problems with mental health in recent years and in this post I saw someone trying to help themselves.

“I contacted Charlotte and said I might be able to find something for him. It looks like we may have sorted a job for him on Monday.”

Charlotte managed to secure a caravan for Anthony and has also set up an online fundraiser to help him do it up.

Her fundraiser has so far raised £950.

Addressing those who have donated, Anthony added: “Thank you for helping change what I have going on. Thank you for understanding my situation. I couldn’t have got out without the help of people like them.

“If I could write a message to thank every single person who donated then I would.”